New vice, good choice?

Hi All,

Well after much indecision I finally bought the new milling vice and settled on a screwless type shown in the photo.

Have to say I wasn't sure about this type of vice but there have been some positive reviews on here so I took the plunge and bought one.

Initial impressions are very good. A good size for the SX2P, it takes a little time getting used to the procedures for adjustment and tightening but once you do it's really simple to use. This one has a 63 mm wide jaw and 1/4 turn of the 6mm. allen key gives a powerful grip on the work with no jaw lift.

It's similar to the ones sold by arc, and a bit more expensive. The relief at either end, is a feature I liked and which makes for an easy longitudinal setting on the table. It came from Germany, but was made in china, like many are!

Geoff

I have a similar vice I made when at work. Absolutely solid and dead square you can remove a job and replace it with no problems of position etc. I have a small step in the top of the jaws to hold thin pieces.

David

A vice of this form was the first which allowed me to machine work square.

I tried many cheaper models first, it would have saved me money to buy a more expensive vice first! :D

There is one of these included in the tools and machinery left to the museum in a will, along with some nice vee blocks and parallels. I haven't had time to unpack them yet. They will be added to our tooling goodies.

My vice is about 40 year old but never reground it and it's still flat and square.

David

I have got two screwless vices and are very satisfied with mine. They are not to large for my milling machine.

Tnor

Hi Thor,

That's another thing that I found attractive the compact design.

A vice with a long screw would take up more or less the full length of the milling table.

I have a big chunky aero engine body to machine. This vice will be A1 for the job.

David, your vice, very nice work. I assume it was made during your time as an apprentice.

Geoff

Ah! Have just made one,

Intended to fit onto the Adept No.2 Shaper that has recently come onto the inventory

Made because of the reports of the lack of jaw lift..

Howard